This weeks recipe was suggested by my partner in this weekly-new-vegan-recipe venture: Chipotle Chilli with Sweet Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts. The recipe is on the Post Punk Kitchen web site. So I can share it with you without having to type out the recipe which, for a lazy blogger like me, made it an even more attractive choice.
No need to feel like the only ignorant one in the room if you don't know what chipotles are. I had no idea either and so I went ahead and googled/wiki-ed them before reading the recipe. And then when I returned to the recipe page on the PPK there was all the info I needed. Apparently they are "this decade’s sundried tomato" and apparently I have been living under a rock. :)
A chipotle is a smoked jalapeno. A jalapeno is a medium sized chilli pepper. A chilli pepper is a..... No wait, you know what that is right? Dear husband and I really enjoyed the smokey flavor and aroma.
I only made two teensy changes to the recipe. I used two tins of beans (instead of one) and, as usual, I reduced the salt to suit my un-Americanised taste buds. Here is a snap of how it turned out.
This is the first time I have been brave enough to follow a recipe that calls for brussel sprouts. As a kid brussel sprouts were the most poisonous food on earth (closely followed by liquorice and liver - shudder) and were used in childhood oaths between my sibblings and I, eg, "Honest, really, if I am lying I will eat a whole truck load of brussel sprouts and liver!" I never thought I would grow up to be one of those adults who actually eats brussel sprouts by choice.
I found chipotles at my local shopping village at Passione Gormet Deli. They had dried chipotle and chipotle in tins in adobo sauce. They also had lots of other cool stuff including the creamiest, most yummiest, most delicious ever hummus. (Note to self - it is high time you started making your own hummus). The owner (at least I think he as the owner) was very helpful. I asked if he stocked any vegan cheese or chocolate. Apparently he did stock it at first but there wasn't enough demand. I will have to see what I can do about that!
Pinto beans were a little trickier. For the second time this year I found myself standing in the shop using my iphone to google "x beans are also known as". I used borlotti beans which seemed to be the closest thing to pinto beans available at my local IGA. I need to find a shop near my house that sells a wider range of beans. I went on a wild goose chase today looking for black beans - but more about that in my next blog post.
Anyone have a fantastic hummus recipe they want to share? I have been looking at lots this week and can't decide which one to try so I would love a recommendation.
